Who hasn't heard of The Challenge, the epic ski circuit that takes ambitious skiers and snowboarders through all four villages of the Skicircus? But that's not the only ski circuit waiting for you in the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn. Choose from gentle blue slopes, demanding red slopes or a mixture of everything - there's a ski circuit for everyone ! These exciting and varied routes offer a fantastic opportunity to explore the spectacular mountain landscapes of the Skicircus, and perhaps stop for a quick bite to eat at one of the mountain restaurants along the way. In this article we've lined up the 5 ski circuits of the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn. Take your pick - or will you try them all?
This legendary ski circuit has a staggering 65 kilometres of slopes, 32 lifts, and covers 12 400 vertical metres. It takes the whole day (around 7 hours) to complete and is only recommended for experienced skiers. While we normally recommend stopping for a break in the many rustic mountain huts of the Skicircus, there simply isn't much time when you're trying to attempt The Challenge! However, for those skiers who do manage to conquer this beast, it's a fantastic way to get an idea of the entire Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn, as it takes you to all four corners of the ski area. The Challenge includes 60% blue slopes, 35% red slopes and 5% black slopes.
The Saalbach circuit is a gentle introduction to the ski area. Composed entirely of blue pistes, the Saalbach circuit covers 19 kilometres, 8 lifts, and 3600m of altitude change. It takes around 2 hours not including breaks. For a unique experience, it's possible to ski on the slalom and giant slalom tracks that were used during the 1991 Alpine Ski World Cup in Kohlmais. Or, take a detour on the I4 Polten 8-seater and get a glimpse of Asitzmulde, in Leogang.
The Hinterglemm circuit is more challenging, with mainly long red pistes and a serious vertical drop that gives advanced skiers a run for their money. The circuit is 26km long and takes about 2.5 hours not including breaks. It can be approached from a clockwise or counterclockwise direction; you'll find more red pistes on the clockwise version. If you want a neat experience, try the SkiMovie piste and speed run at the A9 Underschwarzach lift, or make a detour to the B6 Seekar lift.
Like the Saalbach circuit, the Leogang circuit comprises 100% blue slopes and is suitable for less experienced skiers. In total, the Leogang ski circuit measures 26km and takes around 2.5 hours to complete, not including breaks. You'll start on the gentle slopes of the Asitzmulde before heading to the southern slopes of the Schönleiten and Kohlmais. Passing through Saalbach, you'll eventually come back to Leogang via the Schattberg, enjoying panoramic views of the Leogang Mountains as you ski. It's also possible to start the Leogang circuit from the L3+L4 Steinberg lift. Another option during the circuit is to take the L8 Alm 4-seater lift and tape yourself on the SkiMovie run.
If you're feeling adventurous, it's time to try the Tyrol circuit, which crosses a border from Salzburg into the neighbouring state of Tyrol. At 22km long, the Tyrol circuit takes around 2.5 hours to complete, or longer if you stop to admire the breathtaking views of the Tyrolean mountains. The Tyrol circuit has many challenging red pistes (plus a few blue pistes) and is better-suited to more advanced skiers. We recommend doing a few laps of the E1+E2 Reckmoos north face.
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
